Patient Family Councils Guide Compassionate Care
Adventist HealthCare is expanding the opportunity for patients and their families to give input on our care in their communities.
Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center has launched its first Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). The council brings together diverse members of the White Oak community and includes current and former patients and patient advocates. The PFAC aims to help the hospital grow its culture of service excellence and ensure that care experiences are world class for every patient, every time, with every interaction. The White Oak PFAC kicked off in October 2023 with a meeting to share the history, mission and values of Adventist HealthCare with its volunteer members. In the coming months, the PFAC will meet with department representatives throughout White Oak Medical Center.
More to Come
A similar council will begin soon at Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville. Fort Washington Medical Center is also establishing ways for patients and families to provide greater input. The hospitals follow the lead of Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation, which has hosted a PFAC for several years. Its council has guided matters ranging from the discharge process to the use of equipment in inpatient settings.
“The Patient and Family Advisory Council plays a vital role in bringing the voices of those we serve directly into our strategic and management decision processes,” says Elan Burman, director of Philanthropy for Post-Acute Care Services, who leads the Adventist Rehabilitation PFAC.
The Shady Grove Aquilino Cancer Center also hosts a PFAC that offers perspectives to cancer care teams and leaders.
Adventist HealthCare leaders recognize the great value in the insights, ideas and creative solutions from PFAC volunteers. Through dialogue and collaboration with those we serve, we can improve patient and family encounters, enhance quality and safety, and ensure our teams are providing compassionate care to everyone who walks through our doors.
To learn more about our Patient and Family Advisory Councils or how you can serve, visit AHCYou.com/W24PFAC.
